The 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals refused to reconsider a ruling that gave Jack DeCoster and his son, Peter, three-month prison sentences for the 2010 outbreak of food illness linked to their egg farms, says Food Safety News. At the time, the DeCosters were believed to be the largest egg producers in the country.
Two egg farms in Iowa, owned by the DeCosters, were identified as the source of the outbreak, in which as many as 56,000 people became ill due to salmonella bacteria. In a plea agreement that included Quality Egg LLC, the DeCosters each pleaded guilty to one count of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce and were fined $100,000. Over their objections, the were sentenced to prison terms.
In an appeal, the DeCosters argued there was no proof of intent in their case, and that without it they should not be sentenced to prison. An appellate panel ruled, 2-1, against the DeCosters, leading to the unsuccessful request for a rehearing. The unsuccessful appeal “did attract widespread interest by the business community,” said Food Safety News.